Tree saw attachment for agricultural tractors



Feb. 2, 1954 P. WHITESIDE TREE SAW ATTACHMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS Filed July 3, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Phi/1):

ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1954 P. WI- IITESIDE TREE SAW ATTACHMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS Filed July 3, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I j il/y! Wife sz'ae,

ATTORNEYJ,

Patented Feb. 2, 1954 TREE SAW ATTACHMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS Philip Whiteside, Tyler, Tex.

Application July 3, 1952, Serial N 0. 297,040

6 Claims.

This invention relates to tree saw attachments adapted to be mounted on and driven by agricultural tractors and more particularly to a tree felling attachment which includes a power operated saw and a power operated pusher for causing trees cut off by the saw to fall in a desired direction.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved tree saw attachment for an agricultural tractor which can be easily mounted on an existing tractor with no material modification of the tractor construction to extend rearwardly from the associated tractor; which has a generally horizontally disposed saw mounted at the rear end of the attachment and driven from the power take-ofi connection of the associated tractor; which has tree pushing mechanism disposed above the saw and operated by the hydraulic implement lift mechanism of the associated tractor; which is effective to complete a tree felling operation While the associated tractor remains stationary; which can be elevated at its rear end for convenience in movement of the tractor and attachment from'place to place; which has its operating levers positioned in front of an operator seated on the tractor for greater convenience in the use of the device; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture from readily available materials, and positive and effective in operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a tree felling attachment illustrative of the invention and an associated agricultural tractor, the tractor being shown in broken lines and having one rear wheel removed to clarify the illustration;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the attachment;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a tree pusher mounted on the tractor and cooperating with the tree felling attachment;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a fragmentary rear end portion of the attachment; and

Figure 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational View of the tractor and attachment showing the attachment in raised position.

With continued reference to the drawings, the tractor comprises a frame it supported at its rear end on the housing of the rear axle I I which includes gear housings i2 and I3 disposed one at each. side of the tractor, and supported at its front end on front steering wheels I4. The rear axle housing is supported on a pair of coaxial rear driving wheels one of which is illustrated and designated at I5 and an engine I6 is mounted on the front portion of the frame I0 and drivingly connected to the rear driving wheels of the tractor by means well known to the art. A fiat, substantially horizontal platform I! is disposed above the housing of the rear axle II and a drivers seat I8 is mounted on this platform. A hydraulic implement lift mechanism I9 is mounted on the frame I0 at the rear end of the engine I6 and includes an implement lift arm 20 depending from and angularly movable about a shaft 2| which projects from the implement lift mechanism I9 and is substantially horizontally disposed transversely of the tractor frame I0. A bearing structure 22 for pivotally mounting an implement carrying arm is mounted on the tractor frame near the front end of the engine and the implement lift I9 is powered by a pump 23 driven by the engine l6 and connected to the implement lift through conduits 24 and a control valve 25 operated by a manually movable lever 26 mounted on a brace 21 for the steering column 28 of the tractor and disposed within convenient reach of an operator seated on the tractor seat I8.

A power take-off connection 29 is mounted on the housing of the rear axle I I substantially midway between the rear driving wheels and is disposed adjacent the rear end of the tractor platform II.

As agricultural tractors of the character illustrated are old and well known to'the art, a more detailed illustration and description of the tractor is considered unnecessary for the purposes of the present disclosure, a suitable tractor for carrying the tree sawing attachment of the present invention being the Club" tractor manufactured by International Harvester Company of Indianapolis, Indiana.

The tree felling attachment comprises, in general, a main frame 30 pivotally mounted intermediate its length on the housing of the rear axle II for swinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis disposed transversely of the main frame and substantially parallel to the rotational tractor power take-off connection 29 to the saW- carrying shaft 34. The attachment also includes a hand lever 31 mounted on the tractor platform-l I1 and connected by a link 38 with the: main. frame ii) at the front end of the latter for raising and lowering the rear end of themain frameand the saw 35, and a hand leverfiiiralso mounted; on the tractor platform and connected by a link 40 to the sub-frame 33 for swinging the sub fra-me about the axis of its pivotal connection with the past 3:45 tn; feed the; 35; into a;treedisposed adiauenirtherear end of the main frame 3ll ofz the attachment. This: constitutes generally. the: tree sawing: portion; of. the: attachment and the; tree pusher attachment; comprises anelongated? tubulan guide: 421 mountedionlthetractor by standands; 42,. 43- and. 44521111 extending. longitudinally of; the main frame: as above andsubstantially parallel; to! the. latter, a; pusher rod 45;- extending slidably tliroughithes tubular'guide M, link and lever: mechanism 46: connecting the implement li'ftiarmxzwfl tothe pusher-rodi lfi atthefront end of: the latter, andia: cross bar 47;- secured intermediate: its;length; to; the: pusher rod 85 at the rear'endaof'theil'atter and disposed substantially perpendicular to:- the: pusher. rod; and: at: right angles; to; the: rotational axis: of. the, saw. 35; for engaging'a tree above the saw. and: pushing the tree. in a direction: away from: the: tractoras the treeii's cut ofii near-the ground; by the saw.

The. main frame; 3E1 comprises" a pair of spaced apart and; substantially parallel! side. members 9 meter connected by.- front. and intermediate cross members: 52;, 53 and 5.4: disposed'i substantially perpendicular to; the; side; members, andfloy' a, rear cross member 55 disposed at an. angle to the sidermembers, the; sidemember 5W being: longer than the sideamember; 5:! sorthatv thezf-ramej terurinates; at rear end substantially in: a point 51% 31;.171182 rear'emt Off the: right. hand. side mem.-

ber 50. Angle brackets 57 and 58 are secured to the'geari housings If; and t3; respectively atv the sides the: gear: housings-1 and extend toward eacliiotlmrinthe space; between the-spaced gear housings. Bearings: 58. and Gilare mounted on the: brackets 51- andmEB respectively 5 and: stub; shafts? 5 and; 62. are secured? tothe side members vfifliand 5!: by pairs; of spacedapart; apertured: lugs,- 53; and. 644- and: are received.- at. their outer ends in the bearings 59 and fidto pivotally mount the: main frame ofv the attachment onthe gear housing; portions; [2 and: I3 ofv the-housing of the rear axle H of tl'retractor.v Bracket plates 55; and. B6: are mounted: on; the mainv frame adiacent the: inner sidessof the-side members: 553; and

52h respectively and? below the: corresponding stub 6 The hand lever 31 is pivotally mounted on a 175 4 bar 12 which is mounted on the tractor platform I! along the right hand edge of the platform adjacent the main frame side member 50, and an arm '13 projects forwardly from the hand lever near the lower end of the latter and substantial- 1y perpendicular thereto. A toothed quadrant I4 is mounted on the bar 12 concentrically of the pivotaliconnecti'on betweemtheahand lever 37 and. the bar and the hand lever carries a manually movable detent engageable With the teeth of the quadrant in a manner well known to the art to releasably lock the hand lever at selected positions'oi'adjustment along the quadrant.

By moving the upper end of the hand lever 31 for-Wardly'the operator is able to lift the rear end of themainframe and the saw and by moving the upper end of this hand lever rearwardly hei's'ableto lower the rear end of the main frame and the saw, and by use of the quadrant M and detent. 15; he able: tojreleasably lock theimechanism: in; position. withthe saw 35: at any desired level within. its: range;- ofvertical. movement;

The bar 72 extends; rearwardly. 0f;the;p1atform H; of thet-ractor: and-a; tension spring: 16- is; con.- nected. betweenthe rear endof this; bar and the frame side member rearwardly of thepivotal connection between: the. frame; and the, tractor rear axle; housing; so. that the spring; counterbalances the; major.- portion; of the weight; of the rear portion of the-frame, thezsaw and thesawdriving mechanism mounted on} the frame and reducesithemanualzeifort, necessary tobe applied to the-hand lever-:31 to raise-and. lower the saw. Also; if; desired; the front portion of; the: main frame; between the=cross1 members .521. and, 53; may be provided: with. a bottom. or platform 11- and suitable counterrweightslmay beplacedyOn thisplatform to assist, the; counter-balancing spring 7& inovercoming the weight-of the rear portion of theattachment;

The post 3t, whichmay b.e-a. length of structur-al angleriron as. illustrated; in Figure-.4, is secured at its. lower. end: to: the; rear cross; member of the: main. frame,- adjacent, the; rearend of the side, member, 50 and; is. supported. in; its upright position. relativeto, the. main frame by a diagonal brace 1:8 extending from; the: rear end of. the sidefm-ember 5,0:to the'po.st at a location above the main framerandvdiagonal; braces 19, and. 81 extending forwardly from the, post: near the upper'end; ofthe; latter to; the sidemember 5+ at locations. spaced apartialong this side member and, to-therside-member 50 at a location. ad;- jacent the; pivotal; connection between the main frame and. the rear axle housing of, the tractor. Bearing-blocks 82 and: 3.3 are; secured to the post 3i; at .theupper andglower ends respectively of the post andhave acommonaxissubstantially parallel to: the: longitudinal. center line of: the post. The shaft 3. 2 isiournalednear its upper and lower endsin the bearing blocks,- 82 and 8,3 and a belt pulley 85 is mounted; onathis. shaft and connected by. a belt 86 with-.arbelt pulley 8.!- on the. shaft 36 for drivingly connecting the tractor power takeoff connection tothershaft 32 through the idler or lay shaft 36;

The sub-frame. 3.3 hasspaced apart and substantially parallel sidernembers, 90- and 9t connected: by intermediate cross members 92. and 93 disposed substantiallyperpendicular to the side membersand, upper and lower cross. members, 9.4 and 95respective1y, disposed at an, angle to the side members so that the subeframe terminates at, its upper end, substantially a point at he upper end of the side member 9| and at its lower end substantially in a point at thelower end of the side member 90. The side member 9I of the sub-frame is disposed adjacent the shaft 32 and bearing blocks 36 and 91 are secured to the side member BI at the upper and lower ends respectively thereof and receive the upper and lower ends of the shaft 32 to pivotally mount the substantially vertically disposed sub-frame 33 on the substantially horizontally disposed main frame 30 for swinging movement about a substantially vertical axis coincident with the rotational axis of the shaft 32.

Bearing blocks 98 and 99 are mounted on the side member 33 of the sub-frame 33 at the upper and lower ends respectively of this side member and the shaft 34 is journaled near its upper and lower ends in the bearing blocks 83 and 99 for rotation about an axis spaced from and substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the shaft 32. The sub-frame is thus off-set laterally from the rear end of the side member 53 of the main frame and the saw 35 is mounted on the lower end of the shaft 35 and disposed somewhat below the main frame 33 of the attachment. A guard plate I03 of rectangular shape is mounted on the subframe 33 at the lower end thereof and at the side of the sub-frame remote from the rear .cross member '5 of the main frame to guard the subframe and the shaft 34 from engagement by a tree with which the horizontally disposed saw 35 is engaged.

A belt pulley IBI is mounted on the shaft 32 above the pulley 85 and a belt pulley W2 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 34 and drivenly connected by a belt I63 with the pulley IBI thus completing the drive from the tractor power take-01f connection to the saw 35 through the saw arbor shaft 3 5.

The hand lever 33 is mounted on a bar I34 which is mounted on the tractor platform I? and extends along the lefthand edge of the platform adjacent the side member 5| of the main frame of the attachment. This lever is pivotally connected at its lower end to the bar I33 by pivotal connection I33 and a toothed quadrant I33 is mounted on the bar I34 concentrically of the pivotal connection I05 and is engaged by a detent I31 carried by the hand lever 39 to releasably lock the hand lever iri selected'positions of adjustment relative to the quadrant. An arm I88 extends outwardly and downwardly from the lower end of the hand lever 39 and is connected at its lower end to the front end of the link 43, the rear end of this link "being connected to the side member 96 of the sub-frame 33 by a pivotal connection I09.

When the upper end of the hand lever 39 is moved forwardly of the tractor the saw arbor 34 is moved rearwardly of the tractor and will be fed into a tree disposed adjacent the rear end of the frame 39, as illustrated in Figure l. The saw 35 and saw arbor 34 are moved forwardly of the tractor by moving the upper end of the hand lever 33 rearwardly.

The standards 42, 43 and 34 are rigidly connected at their lower ends to the bar I84 or to some convenient structural part of the associated tractor and are rigidly connected at their upper ends to the guide tube AI at locations spaced apart along the under side of the guide tube.

The link and lever mechanism 46 connecting the tractor hydraulic implement lift to the front end of the push rod 45 comprises an arbor IID journaled in the bearing 22 on the tractor and projecting outwardly therefrom, a lever III mounted at its lower end on the arbor III! and projecting upwardly from the arbor to a location adjacent the front, end of the rod 45,'an arm II2 extending upwardly and forwardly from the lower end of the lever I I I and connected at its distal end to the lower end of the implement lift arm 20 by a link I I3, and a link I I4 pivotally connecting the upper end of the lever III to the forward end of the push rod 45.

By moving the manual control lever 23 for the implement lift mechanism the operator can control the hydraulic implement lift mechanism in a manner such that it will force the push rod 45 rearwardly or forwardly at the will of the operator.

In using the device, the tractor is placed in position with the saw 35 adjacent the base of a tree to be cut down. The tractor is then secured in position by locking its brakes and the implement lift mechanism is operated to bring the cross bar 41 on the rear end of the pusher rod 45 against the tree at a location above the saw. The upper end of the hand lever 33 is then moved forwardly to feed the saw rearwardly and into the adjacent tree and, as the saw cuts into the tree the control lever 26 of the hydraulic implement lift is operated to cause the implement lift to apply a rearwardly directed pressure to the push rod 45 thereby forcing the tree rearwardly away from the tractor as it is cut off by the saw 35. After the tree has been cut off and felled the drive from the tractor engine to the power take-off connection 29 is discontinued, the upper end of the hand lever 39 is moved rearwardly to retract the saw away from the tree stump and the upper end of the hand lever 31 is moved forwardly to elevate the saw a suitable distance above the ground. The tractor may now be moved to a new location and the tree felling operation repeated.

In order to maintain the cross bar 41 on the rear end of the push bar 45 in a substantially horizontal position the guide tube 4| is provided in its upper side with an elongated slot II5 extending longitudinally of the guide tube intermediate the length thereof and the push rod 45 is provided with an outwardly projecting pin I I6 slidably received in the slot I I5 and restraining the push rod against rotation relative to the guide tube while providing freedom of longitudinal movement of the push rod through the guide tube.

The invention. may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the ap pended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come Within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an agricultural tractor having a pair of rear driving wheels, a rear axle housing extending between said rear wheels, a platform above said rear axle housing and a power take-01f connection adjacent said rear axle housing, a tree saw attachment comprising an elongated main frame pivotally mounted near one end on said rear axle housing for movement about an axis extending transversely of said main frame and disposed substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rear driving wheels of the associated tractor, a first shaft journaled on said main frame for rotation about'an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the pivotaL connection between said; main frame and the rear axle housing of the tractor, means drivingly connecting the power take-off connection of the. tractor to said first shaft, said main frame extending forwardly and rearwardly of said pivotal connection between said main frame and said, rear axle. housing, a post secured to said main frame at the rear end of the latter and upstanding, therefrom substantially perpendicularly thereto, bearings mounted on said post in spaced apart. relationshiptoeach other and having a common, axis disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of said post, a second shaft journaled in said bearings, means drivingl-y connecting said first shaft to said second shaft, a sub-frame having spaced apart and substantially parallel sides pivotally mounted at one side on said post for swinging movements about the. rotational axis of said second shaft, a third shaft. journaled on said subframe at the other side of the latter and disposed substantially parallel to said second shaft, means drivingly connecting, said second shaft to said third. shaft, a circular saw mounted on said. third shaft at the end of the latter nearest said mainframe, a first hand lever mounted on the platform of the associated tractor, link means connecting said first hand lever to said sub.- frame for swinging thev latter about the pivotal connection between said. sub-frame and said post, a second hand lever mounted on the tractor platform, and link means connecting said second hand lever tosaidv main frame at the front end of the latter for moving said. main frame about the pivotal connection between said main frame. andsaid tractor rear axle housing for raising and lowering, the rear end of said main frame and said saw.

2. In combination withv an. agricultural tractor having a frame, a rear axle housing, and a power take-off connection, a tree saw attachnient comprising a substantially horizontally disposed. main frame having a front end and a rear end and pivotally mounted adjacent its front. end on said tractor rear axle housing. for movementabout. a substantially horizontally disposed axis extending transversely of said main frame, a support upstanding from said main frame at the rear end thereof, a substantially vertically disposed. sub-frame having spaced apart and substantially parallel sides pivotally connected at one side to. said support for. swinging movements relative to. said main frame about a substantially vertical axis, a. vertically disposed saw arbor journaled. on said sub-frame at the other side of the latter, a circular saw mounted on. the lower end. of. said saw arbor, means carried by said main frame drivingly connecting said tractor power take-off. connection to said saw arbor, first manually operated means mounted. on said tractor frame and connected to said main, frame for raising and lowering the rear. end. of the latter, and second manually operated means. mounted on. said. tractor frame and connected to said. sub-frame for swinging the latter. about its. pivotal connection with said main frame. and. imparting feeding or retracting movements to said. saw.

3. In. combinationwithyan agricultural tractor having aframaarear axle. housing, and av power take-01f connection, a-tree saw attachment comprising a substantially horizontally disposed main frame havinga front end. and a rear end and pivotally mounted adjacent, its. front. end on said tractor rear axle housing for movement about a substantially horizontally disposed axis extending transversely of said main frame, a support upstanding from said main frame at the. rear end thereof, a substantially vertically disposed sub-frame having spaced apart and sub.- stantially parallel sides pivotally connected at one side to said support for swinging movements relative to said main frame about a substantially vertical axis, av vertically disposed saw arbor journaled on said sub-frame at the other side of the latter, a circular saw mounted on the lower end of said saw arbor, means carried by saidmain frame dri'vingly connecting said tractor power take-01f connection to said saw arbor, first manually operated means mounted on said. tractor frame and connected to said main frame for raising, and lowering the rear end of the latter, second manually operated means mounted on said tractor frame. and connected to said subframe for swinging the latter about its pivotal connection with said main frame and imparting feeding or retracting movements to said saw, and spring meansconnected. between said tractor frame and said main frame counter-balancing the weight at the rear end of said main frame to facilitate vertical movements of the rear end of said main frame by said first manually operated means.

. 4. In a tree saw attachment adapted to be mounted on an agricultural tractor and including a main frame adapted to be pivotally connected at one end to they rear axle housing of an associated tractor for vertical. movements of adjustment, a first shaft journalled on and ex.- tending transversely of said main frame near said one end of the latter and adapted to be driven by the power take-off. connection of an associated tractor, a vertically disposed post mounted on said. main frame at the other end of the latter, bearings mounted on said post at locations spaced apart therealong, a second shaft journalled in. said bearings and disposed substantially parallel to. said post, means drivingly connecting said first shaft to said second shaft, av sub-frame mounted on said second shaft for swinging movements about the rotational axis of said second shaft, a third shaft journalled on said sub-frame in spaced and substantially parallel relationship tosaid second shaft and extending below said sub-frame, means drivingly connecting said second shaft to said third shaft, and a circular saw mounted. on the lower end of said third shaft.

5. In av tree saw attachment adapted to. be mounted on an agricultural tractor and including a main framev adapted to. be pivotally connected. at one end to the rear axle housing of an associated tractor for vertical movements of adjustment, a first shaft journalled on and extending transversely of said main frame near said one end of the latter and adapted to be driven by the powertake-off connection. of an associated tractor, a vertically disposed post mounted on said: main frame at the other end of the latter, bearings. mounted on said post at locations spaced aparttherealong, a second shaft journalled in said bearings and disposed substantially parallel to said post, means driving-1y connecting said first shaft to said second shaft, a sub-frame mounted on said second shaft for swinging movements about therotational axis of said second shaft, a third shaft jcurnalled on said sub-frame in spaced and substantially parallel relationship to said second shaft and extending below said sub-frame; means drivingly 9 connecting said second shaft to said third shaft, a circular saw mounted on the lower end of said third shaft, manually operated means connected to said main frame and adapted to be mounted on an associated tractor for adjustably raising and lowering said main frame and said sub frame, and manually operated means connected to said sub frame and adapted to be mounted on an associated tractor for adjustably swinging said sub frame about said second shaft.

6. In a tree saw attachment adapted to be mounted on an agricultural tractor and including a main frame adapted to be pivotally connected at one end to the rear axle housing of an associated tractor for vertical movements of adjustment, a first shaft journalled on and extending transversely of said main frame near said one end of the latter and adapted to be driven by the power take-off connection of an associated tractor, a vertically disposed post mounted on said main frame at the other end of the latter, bearings mounted on said post at locations spaced apart therealong, a second shaft journalled in said bearings and disposed substantially parallel to said post, means drivingly connecting said first shaft to said second shaft, a sub-frame mounted on said second shaft for swinging movements about the rotational axis of said second shaft, a third shaft journalled on said sub-frame in spaced and substantially parallel relationship to said second shaft and 1Q extending below said sub-frame, means drivingly connecting said second shaft to said third shaft, a circular saw mounted on the lower end of saidthird shaft, manually operated means connected to said main frame and adapted to be mounted on an associated tractor for adjustably raising and lowering said main frame and said sub-frame, manually operated means connected to said sub-frame and adapted to be mounted on an associated tractor for adjustably swinging said sub-frame about said second shaft, and spring means connected to said main frame and adapted to be connected to an associated tractor for exerting a lifting force on said main frame.

PHILIP VIHITESIDE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,126,312 Strauss Jan. 26, 1915 1,318,324 Keon Oct. 7, 1919 1,830,871 Domagola Nov. 10, 1931 1,832,599 Wilhelm et al Nov. 17, 1931 2,354,625 Van Sickle July 25, 1944 2,404,655 Randall July 23, 1946 2,439,607 Irwin Apr. 13, 1948, 2,461,589 Crawford Feb. 15, 1949 2,4 2,314 Fugua Feb. 22, 1949 2,542,9 2 White Feb. 20, 1951 

